Machine for driving nails



No. Bll,2l4. Patented Sept. 20, I898. C'. M. GREEN.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

(Application melt Dec. 17, 1896.) (No Model.) a sheets shet I.

8 Sheets--Sheet 2.

Patented Sept. 20, I898.

C. M. GREEN.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1896.)

No. e||,2|4.

(No Model.)

umo, WASHINCTON o c No. s||,2|4. Patented Sept. 20, I898.

c. m. GREEN.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1896.) (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No. 6ll,2l4. Patented Sept. 20, I898. C. M. GREEN.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1896.)

8 Sheets-Sheet '4.

(No Model.)

'ruz mums PETERS co. Wcnmmrm'nv wAsumewN a c Patented Sept. 20. I898.

C. M. GREEN.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1896.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

m: nomifs PUERS co mowu'mou WASHINGTON, o. c.

. Patented Sept. 20, I898.

No. 6ll,2l4.

c. M. urn-:12". MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

(Applicaltion filed Dec. 17, 1896.)

8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 20, I898.

No. 6ll,2l4.

s L Am a .61 E Ww B B an .m fi Mum fi G M m Hm c A M J u d o M 0 N FFICE.

PATENT CHARLES M. GREEN, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING NAILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,214, dated September 20, 1898.

I Application filed December 1'7, 1896. Serial No- 615,952. (No model.)

useful Improvements in Machines for Driving Nails, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists in the features of novelty that are hereinafter fully described,

with reference to the accompanying-draw-' ings, which are made a part of this specification, and in which- Figure I is a side elevation of a machine for driving nails embodying the invention. Fig. II is an end elevation thereof viewed in the direction of the arrow II, Fig. I. Fig. III is a plan view thereof with some of the parts that are located below the plane indicated by the line III III, Fig. I, omitted. Fig. IV is a plan view of so much thereof as is located below the plane indicated by the line III III, Fig. I, some of the parts that extend both above and below this plane being shown in section. Fig. V is a vertical longitudinal section thereof in the plane indicated by the line V V, Fig. IV, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. VI is a vertical longitudinal section of some of the parts on a larger scale, the plane of the section being approximately indicated by the line VI VI, Fig. III, and the parts being viewed in'the direction of the arrow. Figs. VII, VIII, and IX are views on a still larger scale, showing the nail-feeding mechanism. Fig. X is a sectional elevation on a still larger scale, showing one of the pickers of this nail-feeding mechanism and its accessories. Fig. XI is a perspective view showing in detail a fragment of the movable carriage upon which one of the two gangs of drivers and their accessories are mounted. Fig. XII is a sectional elevation of the mechanism for imparting movement to the pickers of the feeding mechanism, the parts being viewed in the direction of the arrow XII, Fig. IV, and shown on a somewhat larger scale. Fig. XIII is a View of the same parts as are shown in Fig. XII, the two figures differing onlyin respect to the positions of some of-the parts. Fig. XIV is a horizontal section on the line XIV XIV, Fig. XII, looking downward. Fig. XV is aview similar to Fig. XIV,

but with some of the parts that are shown in Fig. XIV omitted. Fig. XVI is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the movable cross-heads by which the drivers are carried and of some of the mechanism by which it is both reciprocated and adjusted, the plane of the section being indicated by the line XVI XVI, Fig. IV, and the parts being shown on a somewhat larger scale. Fig. XVII is a sectional elevation of some of the mechanism for imparting movement to the nail-boxes at one end of the machine and fragments of the main frame, the adjustable carriage, and one of the c ross-heads' by which the nail-drivers are carried, the plane of the section being indicated by the line XVII XVII, Fig. IV, and the parts being shown on a somewhat larger scale and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. XVII is a diagrammatic representation of the means for imparting movement to the nail-boxes. In this figure the parts 7 7 and 83 are represented as having coincident axes,

whereas in the machine as shown in the other figures their axes are at right angles to each other. Fig. XVIII is a perspective view of one of the double nail-chucks. Fig. XIX is an elevation of the clutch mechanism by which the main driving-pulley is at will coupled with the main shaft of the machine, only a fragment of the pulley being shown. Fig. XX is an axial section thereof. Figs. XXI and XXII are transverse sections thereof in the planes indicated by the lines XXI XXI and XXII XXII, respectively, Fig. XX. Fig. XXIII is a face view, and Figs. XXIV and XXV are perspective views, of parts of the clutch.

A is the main frame or bed of the machine. B is a fixed rail which crosses it from side to side and is provided with slots B B and O C are standards rising from it and supporting heavy rods D, D, D D and D 0 c are standards which are similar to the standards 0 O, excepting that instead of being immovably fixed to the main frame they are fixed to a movable carriage which is mounted to slide upon the main frame. This carriage consists of a rail 1), having at its extremities extensions b which rest upon the top of the main frame and have upon their under sides flanges b, which engage theinner margins of the top flanges a of the main frame and to which are bolted plates b",which engage the under sides of said flanges, as shown more clearly in Fig. XVII, whereby the carriage is held in place and confined to astrictly rectilinear movement upon the main frame. The rail 1) in addition to entering into the construction of the movable carriage performs functions (hereinafter described) similar to those of the rail B, and to this end it is provided with slots b 19 The standards c 0 support rods (Z, d (Z (Z and d similar in arrangement and function to the rods D, D, &c.

E E E E are drivers arranged in a gang and carried by a reciprocable cross-head F, whose ends work in guides F, carried by the main frame, and e, e, 6 and e are drivers arranged in a. gang and carried by a reeiprocable cross-headf, whose ends work in guides f, carried by the movable carriage. The cross-head F is reciprocated by a pair of cocentrics F carried by the main shaft 1 of the machine, operating through the medium of pitmen F and the cross-head f is reciprocated by a pair of eccentricsf carried by the shaft 1 and operating through the medium of pitmen f slides 2, mounted in suitable races 3, connecting-rods 4, and nuts 5. The rods 4 are swiveled to the slides 2, so as to be capable of rotating about their axes, but incapable of any endwise movement independently of the slides. They are provided with threads which engage the threads of the nuts 5, and the nuts are secured to the crosshead f, so as to be incapable of any movement relatively thereto. The eccentrics F f are disposed with their longest radii diametrically opposite each other, so that the movements of the cross-heads F f are always in opposite directions. The object of the threaded connection between the rods 4 and cross-headfis to enable their use for the double purpose of transmitting motion from the main shaft to the cross-head and for adjusting the cross-head when the movable carriage is adjusted, for the purpose hereinafter described. In order to accomplish this adjustment, the unthreaded portions 6 of the rods have non-rotative engagement with beveled pinions 7, which mesh with similar pinions 8, carried by a shaft 9, that is journaled in suitable bearings 10 and carries other beveled pinions 11, meshing with corresponding pinions 12,that are carried by screws 13,which have threaded engagement with the carriage through the medium of nuts 14. The pitch of the threads of the rods and screws 13 is the same, so that when the shaft 9 is rotated (for which purpose it is provided at its extremities with non-circular portions 15 for the reception of a crank) the movable carriage and the cross-head will be moved at the same rate of speed and either forward or backward, according to the direction of rotation. Preferably the non-rotative engagement between the rods 4: and pinions 7 is effected by means of splines and grooves, Fig.

IV, which not only accomplish this non-roby the eccentrics for the purpose of reciprocating the cross-head.

In a machine embodying all features of my invention the drivers are, as already stated, arranged in two gangs, and since both of these two gangs of drivers and the mechanisms accessory to them are in many respects alike I will for the sake of brevity confine this description to only one gang, excepting where it becomes necessary to refer to the other. These two gangs of mechanisms are disposed upon opposite sides of the dotted line X, Figs. I, III, IV, and V, and for the present this description will be confined to the gang which is located upon the left-hand side of said line, similar parts of both gangs being indicated by similar reference letters or numerals. WVhere letters are used, the parts on the right-hand side are indicated by capital letters and the parts on the left-hand side by small letters. It is also true that each of these two gangs of mechanisms comprises a number of subordinate groups of mechanism and that in many respects these subordinate groups are similar-that is to say, there is a group of mechanism (indicated as a whole by the reference-letter h) which is accessory to the drivers 6, a group It accessory to the drivers c, a group 7L2 accessory to the drivers 6 and a group 7L accessory to the drivers 6 Each of these fourgroups contains all the parts that go to make up the group 71, and while each of the groups h 7L2 703 has some parts that are not found in the group 71 yet all of these three groups are alike. Hence for the sake of brevity I will for the present confine this description to one of these latter groups, and for the purpose will select the group h accessory to the drivers 6, this group being shown on asomewhat larger scale in Fig. VI. It should also be observed that preferably the drivers are arranged in pairs; but for the sake of brevity I will first describe the parts that are accessory to a single driver and then describe the preferred manner of incorporating these parts in a machine embodying all features of the invention.

15 represents the nail-chuck; 16, the chute for conducting the nails to the chuck; 17, the magazine for containing a number of nails in readiness for being discharged into the chute; 18, the feeding mechanism for taking the nails from the magazine one at a time and discharging them into the chute, and 19 a box for containing a larger supply of nails and for feeding them to the magazine.

The chuck is made up of a lower jaw, in which is formed a channel 20, and an upper jaw 21, pivoted to the lower jaw at 22 and provided with a toe 23, which projects downward into the channel 20 and closes the clelivery end thereof, the under side of the toe being beveled or sloped, so that when the nail is advanced by the follower it will lift the upper jaw far enough to enable it (the nail) to leave the chuck. Upon the withdrawal of the driver the upper jaw will be returned to its normal position by gravity. The chuck is provided with vertical openings 24 for the passage of bolts 25, the stems of which pass through the slot b of the rail 5, and the heads of which bear against the under side of said rail, so that when the nuts on the upper ends of the bolts are tightened the chuck is firmly secured to the rail.

The lower end of the nail-chute enters the channel of the chuck and rests upon the bottom thereof, so as to close the channel at back and prevent the nail from escaping therefrom when it rebounds (if it should) after entering the chuck. In order to permitof this arrangement of the nail-chute and chuck and at the same time allow the driver to enter the channel of the chuck, the chute is pivoted, and to this end it is provided on its under side with a perforated ear 26, which fits loosely upon the rod d. 1 Another peculiarity of this chute is that it receives the nails from the magazine vertically and delivers them to the chuck horizontally. In order to permit it to do so, it is so shaped that its upper portion takes a substantially vertical course, its lower portion takes a substantially horizontal course, and throughout its length it is constructed upona continuous gradual curve. Another peculiarity of it is that, excepting atits upper end,where it takes the form of a hopper, its top side is open for the purpose of lessening the possibility of its being choked in the event of the delivery of more than one nail into it at a time and to facilitate the removal of any nails which may perchance become thus choked in it. This open chute also has the advantage of enabling the workman to see whether or not the feeder is doing its work properly.

The feeder has two pickers 27 and 28, which are disposed in customary manner opposite the slot 29 of the magazine 17. The picker 27 is integral with its stem 30, which passes through a perforation in a block 31 and is there secured by a set-screw 32, so as to permit the picker to be adjusted by either a rotaryor a longitudinal movement of its stem. The pointing-off picker 28 is so mounted at the lower end of its stem 33 that it is capable of alimited endwise movement independently of said stem, but incapable of any rotary movement. To this end it has a portion which occupies a socket 34, carried atthe lower end of the stem 33,and within this socket it is provided with a reduced portion 35, surrounded by a spring 36, which bears in one direction against the end of the socket 34 and in the other direction against the shoulder 37, resulting from the reduced portion 35, whereby the picker is held projected with a yielding force. The reduced portion 35 projects through a perforation in the end of the socket 34 and is threaded for the reception of a nut 38, which bears against the end of the socket and thereby forms a stop for limiting the outward movement of the picker under the influence of the spring and at the same time provides means for adjusting the picker endwise. The picker is provided in its side with a longitudinal groove 40, into which projects the end of a screw 41, that has threaded engagement with the socket, whereby the rotary movement of the picker is prevented. The stem 33 projects through a perforation in the block 31 and is there adjustably secured by means of a set-screw 42. It will be understood that as the block 31 moves back and forth in the directions indicated by the arrows placed upon it in Figs. VII and VIII the pickers allow the nails to escape from the magazine one at a time and fall into the chute in customary manner.

The magazine consists of two parallel plates 43 and 44, placed a sufficient distance apart to leave between them the slot 29, which is of sufficient width to admit the shanks of the nails, but not of sufficient width to admit the heads of the nails,the arrangement being such that the nails will be suspended by their heads in customary manner, as shown in Fig. VI. The plates are inclined at such an angle that the nails will slide down the magazine by gravity, and are connected and supported by blocks 45 and 46, which are either cast with them or secured to them, and are provided with channels 47 and 48, respectively, of sufficient size to permit the heads of the nails to pass. These blocks are perforated and are supported by the rods 61 and d respectively, one of them being provided with a set-screw 49, by which it may be secured to its supporting-rod for the purpose of holding the magazine and its accessories in place.

The nail-box 19 is hinged at 50 to the upper end of the magazine. It is provided in its bottom with a slot 51, registering with the slot 29 of the magazine, and means (hereinafter described) are provided for rocking the box about its hinge so that it is tilted in first one direction and then the other. This tilting of the box causes the nails within it to shift from end to end, and in doing so their shanks fall through the slot 51, so that they are supported by their heads in the mannershown in Fig. VI. While thus supported, when the box is tilted so that its bottom inclines in the same direction as does the magazine 17 the nails which have arranged themselves in the slot 51 will slide by gravity into the slot of the magazine. In order to avoid a space between the bottom of the box and the upper end of the magazine, plates 52 are secured to the bottom of the box, so that theyform an extension thereof which meets the upper end of the magazine, this extension being rounded off concentrically with the hinge 50, as shown- As before stated, I prefer to arrange the drivers in pairs, and this of course necessitates a practical duplication of all the parts just described. To this end the lower jaw of the chuck is provided with two channels 20, the upper jaw is provided with two toes 23, a nail-chute is provided for each of these channels, the magazine is provided with a slot 29 foreach of these nail-chutes, a pair of pickers is provided for each of these slots, (albeit both pairs of pickers are preferably supported by the same block 31,) and the nail-box is provided with two slots 51. With this double arrangement the two drivers are preferably arranged at different levels, and the bottoms of the two channels of the lower jaw of the chuck are similarly disposed, in order to prevent the two nails which are driven close together from splitting the work and at the same time join the work more securely.

In order to simultaneously efiect the lateral adjustment of the drivers, the chucks, the chutes, the magazines, the feeders, the nailbox, and the work-clampin g lever, hereinafter described,they are all connected with a part 5-l (herein called a carrier) preferably in the following manner: At 55 the carrier is bolted to the chuck and at 56 it carries a plate, between which and the carrier itself projects a pin 57, rising from the block 58, which carries the drivers, said block being provided with a T-head 59, occupying an undercut groove in the cross-head f, so as to be capable of sliding therein. 60 is a pin secured at one end to the carrier and at the other end engaging a collar 61, which is slidably mounted upon the rod (1 and engages the perforated ears 26 of the chutes. At 62 and 63 the carrier is bolted to the blocks 45 and 46 of the magazine, and at 645 it carries a bifurcated lug, which engages the opposite ends of the hub 65 of the clamping-lever 66, which latter is mounted upon a rock-shaft '6, so as to be capable of sliding endwise thereon, but incapa ble of rotating thereon, the connection of the rock-shaft and lever being preferably effected by a key 68, which is carried by the hub of the lever and enters a groove 69 in the shaft. The connection between the carrier and the pickers is effected by a spring-actuated bolt 70, which is mounted in a suitable socket in the block 45, and is adapted when projected to enter a recess 71 in the block 31, by which the pickers are carried. In order to withdraw the bolt 7 0, its stem is provided with a laterally-projecting handle 72, and the block 45 is provided with a cam-face 73, with which the handle 72 is held in contact by the actuating-spring 74, the arrangement being such that when the stem is turned in one direction the cam-face 73 will cause the bolt to be withdrawn, and when it is turned in the other direction the spring 7 i will project the bolt and cause it to enter the recess 71.

The group of mechanism indicated at h is not adjustable laterally, and hence it does not include a carrier such as just described; but each of the other groups h, 7L2, and 7&3

has one of these carriers, so that in adjusting the several groups crosswise of the machine for the purpose of placing them at the desired distances apart all parts of each group move together, albeit each group is adjustable independently of every other group, and this is important. This adjustment of the several groups may be accomplished by mechanism of any suitable construction; but I prefer to use screws j, j and j which have threaded engagement with the carriers of the groups h, 71. and 7L3, respectively, the carriers of the groups h and 7t being provided with openings, through which the screws j and j pass without engagement. All of the screws are swiveled to the standard a, so as to be held against endwise movement and at the same time permitted to rotate, and for the purpose of rotating them each is squared at its outer end. When the adjustment of the several groups is to be accomplished, the bolts are projected, so as to .engage the blocks 31, and the set-screws 75 are retracted, so as to release the blocks 31 from the bar 7:, by which they are carried and to which they are normally secured by said screws.

It is through the bar k that the necessary reciprocating movement is imparted to the pickers. To this end the bar is slidably mounted in hearings in the standards cc, and its extremity is engaged by an arm Z, projecting from the upper end of a shaft Z, which is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the standard 0 and carries at its lower end an arm Z having a pivoted latch i which is so disposed that when in normal position and the cross-head f is advanced it (the latch) will drop down into the path of a tappet Z which is carried by the cross-head. Fig. XIII shows the parts in the positions last described. As the cross-head moves backward the tappet Z will come in contact with the pivoted trigger Z and move it in the direction of the arrow in Figs. XIII and XIV and thereby partially rotate the shaft Z in the direction of the arrow placed near it and in opposition to the force of a spring Z which is coiled around it, which spring has engagement at one end with a collar secured to it and has engagement at the other end with a fixed part of the frame. This movement of the shaft causes the rod 71: to move in the direction of the arrow placed upon it, (inward,) thereby moving all the blocks 31, causing all of the pickers 28 to be thrust between the lowermost nails in the several magazines and the ones next above them and all of the pickers 27 to be withdrawn from engagement with the said lowermost nails in the well-known manner. Should it happen that any one of the pickers 28 instead of entering between the lowermost nail and the one next above it should come in contact with a nail and be thereby arrested, the spring 36 would yield and allow all of the other pickers to be advanced and perform their functions. As the trigger Z is moved in the described direction its under side comes too in contact with a fixed shoulder Z, constituting a trip, the office of which is to disengage the trigger from the tappet Z which it does as the parts move backward. When this disengagement is effected, the spring Z will recoil and return the bar and its accessories to the normal positions shown in the drawings. It will be understood that when the feeding mechanism is at work the bolts 70 are all retracted and the blocks 31 are all secured to the bar is by the set-screws 75.

The outer ends of all the nail-boxes are supported bya rod 171., which in turn is supported at its ends by arms m, that are hinged to the standards 0 c at points in line with the common axis of motion of the boxes. All of the nail-boxes at both ends of the machine derive their motion fr'om a shaft 7 6. Motion is transmitted from this shaft to the boxes at one end of the machine through the medium of a pair of disks 77, wrist-pins 78, carried by said disks, and rods 7 9, extending from said wrist-pins to the arms M. Motion is transmitted from the shaft 76 to the nailboxes at the other end of the machine through the medium of a beveled gear-Wheel 80, car-- ried by the shaft 76, abeveled gear-wheel 81, meshing therewith and secured to a shaft 82, extending lengthwise of the machine, an eccentric 83, mounted upon the shaft 82, so as to be capable of sliding thereon, but incapable of any rotation relatively thereto, a lever 84, fulcrumed to a bracket 85, which is carried by the movable carriage, already described, a rod 86, connecting one arm of the lever with a lever 87, which is fulcrumed to the standard 0, a link 88, an arm 89, a rockshaft 90, a pair of arms 91, anda pair of links 92, connecting the extremities of the arms 91 with the arms m. The eccentric 83 is connected to the shaft 82 by means of a spline and groove, and it is also connected with the bracket 85 in such manner-that it will partake of the movement of the movable carriage. This latter connection may be effected by providing the eccentric with a tubular hub which projects through a corresponding opening in the bracket and by securing to the projecting portion of this hub a collar 93, by which the withdrawal of the hub from the openingin the bracket is prevented, the movement of the hub in the opposite direction being prevented by a shoulder which is formed thereon and has contact with the bracket. The disks 7'7 and the eccentric 83 are so placed with relation to each other that the nail-boxes at opposite ends of the machine will always move in opposite directions, this arrangement being shown diagrammatically in Fig. XVII. The advantage in operating the boxes in this Way is that the variationsin the load put upon the shaft 76 and the gearing for driving it are reduced to a minimum. The shaft 76 derives its motion from the constantly-moving pulley 94, through the medium of a sprocketwheel 95, carried by the hub of said pulley, a sprocket-chain 96, embracing said sprocketwheel, a second sprocket-wheel 97, embraced by the chain, a shaft 98, carrying the sprocketwheel 97 and journaled in a suitable bearing secured to the main frame,a pinion 99, carried by said shaft, a pinion 100, meshing with the pinion 99, and a pinion 101, meshing with the pinion 100 and carried by one member 102 of a clutch, the other member 103 of which is con nected to an operating-lever 104. In practice the pulley 94 revolves constantly, while the main shaft 1 revolves intermittently-that is to say, it is given one complete revolution for each driving operation; but this revolution is imparted to it by a clutch, hereinafter described, which must be operated manually, and as soon as the revolution is completed the further movement of the shaft is arrested by a stop, after which it remains at rest until the clutch is again manually operated. This intermittent revolution of the main shaft at comparatively infrequent intervals makes it undesirable as a medium from which to derive power for operating the nail-boxes, and hence I prefer to derive this power from the constantly-moving pulley, so that even while the drivers and all other parts of the machine are at rest the shaking of the boxes may be continued. I prefer, however, to incorporate in the mechanism for transmitting this power a clutch, so that the shaking of the nail-boxes may be stopped when it is found that the magazines are all completely charged.

The clutch for connecting the pulley 94 and the main shaft 1 is shown in Figs. XIX to XXV, inclusive, where 105 represents one clutch member (a portion of the shaft 1) and 106 represents the other clutch member, (a steel bushing secured in the eye of the pulley 94.) The member 105 has in it a socket 107, which takes the form of a longitudinal groove of approximately semicircular shape in cross-section, in which fits a key 108. From the point 109 to the point 110, Fig. XXIV, the key is of the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig. XXIthat is to say, upon one of its sides it is constructed upona curve ofthe same radius as is the member 105 of the clutch and upon the other side it is constructed upon a curve of smaller radius, the socket 107 being of corresponding radius, so that when the key is in place in the socket and occupies the position shown in Fig. XXI it is entirely within the circumference of the member 105. In the member 106 one or more sockets 111 are formed. Preferably there are two of these sockets, and preferably they are formed in steel bushings that are inserted in grooves in the member 106.- These sockets 111 are constructed upon curves of the same radius as is the socket 107, so that when one of the sockets 111 comes opposite the socket 107 the one complements the other in completing a circle. It will be seen upon reference to Fig. XXI that so long as the key 108 remains in the position there shown the member 106 may turn freely upon the member 105, Which in practice it does in the direction of the arrow placed upon it; but should the key 108 be turned in the direction of the arrow placed upon it when one of the sock ets 111 comes opposite it the eifect would be to key together the two members 105 and 106 and prevent their relative rotation, thereby causing motion to be transmitted from the member 106 to the member 105 through the key 108. In the practical carrying out of the invention the key 108 is constantly under the influence of a spring 112, which tends constantly to turn it in the direction of the arrow placed upon it. To this end the key is provided with a cylindrical portion 113, which occupies an eye formed in a plate 114, that is non-rotatively secured to the member 105 at one end of the member 106, and with a projecting portion 115, around which the spring 112 is coiled, one end of the spring being secured to this projecting portion 115 and the other end to the plate 114. In order to effect the connection of the spring and the key, one end of the spring is bent, as shown at 116 in Fig. XIX, and the key is provided with intersecting diametrical notches 117 for receiving this portion 110, and the-connection between the other end of the spring and the disk 114 is effected by a screw 118. As before stated, this spring has a constant tendency to turn the key in the direction which will cause it to key the two members of the clutch together; but this tendency is normally overcome by a more powerful spring 119,which exerts its influence upon the keyin opposition to the force of the spring 112. The power of the spring 119 is transmitted to the key through the medium ofatreadle120,arod121,thelower end of which is jointed to the treadle, a lever 122, to the upper end of which the rod 121 is jointed, a tappet- 123, carried by the lever 122, and an arm 124, which is rigid with the key 108 and projects laterally therefrom, the lever 122 being pivoted at 125 to the frame of the machine and being so disposed that the tappet 123 will lie in the path traveled by the arm 124. As shown in Figs. XIX and XXII, the tappet 123 is in engagement with the arm 124 and the key 108 thereby held in the position shown in Fig. XXI, permitting the free rotation of the member106 about the member 105. hen it is desired to transmit motion from the member 106 to the member 105, the operatorpresses upon the treadle 120 and thereby withdraws the tappet 123 from contact with the arm 124. The spring 112 thereupon turns the key 108 in the direction of the arrow placed upon it in Fig. XXI as soon as one of the sockets 111 arrives at a position which will enable this to be done. The members are thereby keyed together and will continue to rotate together until the key 108 is again completely withdrawn from the socket 111 and returned to its position within the socket 107. If the operator releases the pressure upon the treadle as soon as the engagement has been eifected, the spring 119 will cause the tappet 123 to bear against the periphery of a disk 126,which is secured non-rotatively to the member 105 and has a recess 127, in which the arm 124 works. As the arm 124 is carried around it will come in contact with the tappet 123, and it will be moved inward far enough to return the key .108 to the position shown in Fig. XXI. At the instant the withdrawal of the key from the socket 111 is completed the tappet 123 comes in contact with a shoulder 128 on the disk 126 and therebyarrests the further movement of the disk, and of course the member 105, to which it is non-rotatively secured by a cylindrical portion 129 of the key.

The machine thus constructed is intended and is especially adapted for use in nailing together the parts of rectangular framessuch, for example, as the frames shown in Fig. IIIbut it may be used for nailing together the parts of boxes and other articles. It may be used for simultaneously driving all of the nails that are used for securing together the parts of either one or two frames or boxes, the parts being shown in Figs. III and IV as arranged for two frames. The rails B b constitute the table upon which the parts to be secured together are placed, the proper positions for the parts upon the table being indicated partly by the gages N n and partly by the chucks, which are so disposed that they also serve as gages. The chucks are adj ustably secured to the rails, as already described, and the gages N n are also adj ustably secured to the rails by means of bolts 0 0, which pass through them and through the slots B b of the rails and are provided with enlarged heads which engage the under sides of the rails. These adjustable gages may be of any required shape and number. here the machine is used for simultaneously nailing together the parts of two frames, as shown in Fig. III, eight of these gages are arranged as shown in said figure, and the several drivers and groups of mechanism accessory to them are adj usted to such positions that when said pieces are arranged between the gages and chucks in the manner shown the nails will be driven laterally through the two side pieces and longitudinally into the ends of the two end pieces. Where it is desired to use the machine for making frames of greater or less width than those shown in the drawings, it is simply necessary to adjust the distance apart of the two gangs of drivers and their accessories, and this is done by rotating the shaft 9 in one direction or the other, accordingly as the distance between the two gangs of drivers is to be increased or decreased, no other alteration or adjustment of the parts being necessary. The manner of changing the distance apart of the several drivers of the two gangs and their accessories has already been described.

In the practical operation of the machine two men are employed, who stand in the positions indicated by the letters X in Figs. III and IV, and in order to divide between them the work of adjusting and manipulating the use.

partsthe screws for adjusting one set of drivers and their accessories terminate at one side of the machine and the screws for adjusting the other set terminate at the other side of the machine. For a similar reason the levers I t" for operating the rock-shafts I i are placed one at each side of the machine. It will be understood that the clamping-levers 66 always lie substantially in the vertical planes of the several drivers, so that when the levers I t" are moved in the directions of the arrows placed upon them in Fig.

I the feet I t' of the clamping-levers will be brought down, so that each of them bears upon one of the side pieces and one of the end pieces of which the frame is to be made, spanning the joint between them. In order to insure that the feet shall have a firm bearing upon both of these two pieces, each of them is hollowed out on its under side and is so connected to the lever by which it is carried that it is capable of rocking slightly.

Having thus described my invention, the

following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. In a machine for simultaneously driving nails in opposite directions, the combination of a pair of reciprocable cross-heads disposed parallel with each other, means for confining said cross-heads to movement in a direction which is transverse to their length, drivers disposed in operative relation to both of the cross-heads and presented in opposite directions, nail-chucks disposedin operative relation to the drivers, and means for simultaneously moving said cross-heads in opposite directions, said means including a single shaft disposed parallel with the cross-heads, means for converting the rotary movement of the shaft into reciprocating movement of reciprocable devices directly controlling the crossheads, means for con fining said reciprocable devices to movement in a direction which is transverse to the shaft and cross-heads, and means connecting said reciprocable devices with the cross -heads, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for simultaneously driving nails in opposite directions, the combination of a pair of reciprocable cross-heads disposed parallel with each other, drivers disposed in operative relation to both of the cross-heads and presented in opposite directions, nail- -chucks disposed in operative relation to the drivers, and means for simultaneously moving the cross-heads in opposite directions, said means including but a single shaft disposed parallel with the cross-heads, pitmen disposed at right angles to the cross-heads and shaft, means for converting the rotary movement of the shaft directly into reciprocating movement of the pitmen, and means connecting the pitmen with the cross-heads, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina machine for simultaneously driving nails in opposite directions, the combination of a pair of reciprocable cross-heads disposed parallel with each other, drivers disposed in operative relation to both of the cross-heads and presented in opposite directions, nailchucks disposed in operative relation to the drivers,and means for sim ultaneously moving both of the cross-heads in opposite directions, said means including a single shaft disposed parallel with the cross-head s, pitmen disposed frame and movable in a direction which is transverse to the shaft, a pair of reciprocable cross-heads disposed parallel with each other and with the shaft, one of said cross-heads being mounted upon the main frame and the other upon the movable carriage, guides for confining said cross-heads to movement in a direction which is transverse to the shaft, drivers carried by each of the cross-heads and presented in opposite directions, nail-chucks arranged in operative relation to the drivers, and connections between the shaft and both of the cross-heads whereby movement is transmitted from the shaft to the cross-heads and the cross-heads simultaneously moved in op posite directions through equal distances, the connection between the shaft and the crosshead which is mounted upon the movable carriage being adjustable in order to permit of the adjustment of the movable carriage upon the main frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for driving nails in oppodrivers carried by each of the cross-heads and presented in opposite directions, nail-chucks arranged in operative relation to the drivers, and connections between the shaft and both of the cross-heads whereby movement is transmitted from the shaft to the cross-heads and the cross-heads simultaneously moved in opposite directions through equal distances, the

connection between the shaft and the crosshead which is mounted upon the movable carriage including a rod which is capable of endwise movement for the purpose of reciprocating the cross-head and of rotary movement for the purpose of adjusting the cross-head and means whereby when the rod is rotated the cross-head is adjusted, substantially as set forth.

6. Ina machine for driving nails, the com bination of a main frame, a driving-shaft supported thereby, a movable frame supported by the main frame, means for adjusting the movable frame upon the main frame, a reciprocable cross-head carried by the movable frame, a rod which is capable of bot-l1 endwise and rotary movement, means for converting the rotary movement of the shaft into a reciprocating movement and transmitting it to the rod, means for transmitting the reciprocating movement of the rod to the crosshead, means for rotating the rod, and means for converting its rotary movement into reciprocating movement of the cross -head, whereby the latter may be adjusted with relation to the main frame when the movable frame is adjusted, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with the drivers and a reciprocable cross-head by which they are carried, of a movable carriage upon which the cross-head is mounted, a rod capable of endwise movement for the purpose of reciprocating the cross-head and of rotary movement for the purpose of adjusting the cross-head, means for moving the rod endwise for the purpose of reciprocating the cross-head, means whereby when the rod is rotated the cross-head is adjusted, mechanism for adjusting the movable carriage and means for simultaneously rotating the rod and actuating the mechanism by which the movable carriage is adj usted, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with the drivers and a reciprocable cross-head by which they are carried, of a rod having threaded engagement with the crosshead and being capable of both endwise and rotary movement, means for moving the rod endwise for the purpose of reciprocating the cross-head, a movable carriage upon which the cross-head is mounted, a screw engaging the carriage for moving it, and means for simultaneously rotating the screw and the rod whereby the carriage and the cross-head are moved together for the purpose of adjusting their positions with relation to other parts of the machine, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with the drivers and a reciprocable cross-head, of rods having threaded engagement with the cross-head and being capable of both endwise and rotary movement, means for moving the rods endwise for the purpose of reciprocating the cross-head, gear-wheels, means connecting the gear-wheels and rods so that the rods are capable of endwise and incapable of rotary movement relatively to the wheels, a movable carriage upon which the reciprocable cross-head is mounted, a pair of screws having threaded engagement with the carriage, gear wheels carried by the screws, and a shaft having gear-Wheels meshing with all the gear-wheels aforesaid, whereby when said shaft is rotated the reciprocable cross-head and movable carriage are simultaneously adjusted with relation to other parts of the machine, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine for driving nails in opposite directions at the four corners of a rectangular frame, the combination of a pair of reciprocable cross-heads, means for simultaneously moving them in opposite directions, a pair of drivers carried by each of the crossheads, the drivers of the two pairs being presented in opposite directions, means for adjusting the two pairs of drivers relatively to each other, means for adjusting the drivers of each pair relatively to each other, a pair of relatively adjustable rails disposed parallel with each other and with the cross-heads and forming the work-table, a pair of nailchucks supported by and adjustable longitudinally upon each of said rails, said chucks being adapted to serve as gages, and a pair of gages supported by and adjustable longi tudinally upon each of said rails, the gages being nearer the outer edges of said rails than are the chucks, whereby the chucks determine the positions of two sides of the frame and the gages determine the positions of the remaining two sides of the frame, thus enabling the placing of the last-named sides of the frame directly in lines between opposite nail-chucks, substantially as set forth.

11. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a work-table having four parallel slots, gages disposed upon the table, bolts passing through and laterally adjustable in the inner slots of the table for adj ustably securing the gages thereto,nail-chucks disposed upon the table in positions to serve also as gages, and bolts passing through and laterally adjustable in the outer slots of the table for securing the chucks thereto, substantially as set forth.

12. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a frame which remains at rest during the driving operation, a plurality of carriers supported thereby and laterally adj ustable thereon,independently of each other, a plurality of independent screws each engaging one of the carriers, said screws being adapted when independently operated to independently adjust the carriers, laterally, relatively to each other, and being adapted also to fixedly hold the carriers during the driving operation, means for independently operating the screws, a plurality of independent groups of nail-feeding and nail-driving mechanisms, and means connecting the parts of each of said groups with one of the carriers whereby said parts of each group are compelled to partake of the movement of the carrier with which they are connected for the purpose of adjusting the several groups laterally relatively to each other while at the same time the nail-driving mechanisms are left free to move independently of the carriers during the driving operation, substantially as set forth.

13. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a frame which remains at rest during the driving operation, a plurality of carriers supported thereby so as to be laterally adjustable thereon, independently of each other, a plurality of independent screws each having engagement with one of the carriers, means for independently operating said screws whereby the carriers are independently adjusted upon the frame, said screws being adapted also to fixedly hold the carriers in place during the driving operation, a plurality of magazines, nail-chucks, and chutes for conducting the nails from the magazines to the chucks, all of said parts being supported by the frame and adjustable laterally thereon, the parts of like name being adjustable independently of each other, a reciprocable cross-head, a plurality of drivers, means whereby the drivers are compelled to partake of the reciprocating movement of the crosshead, and means for connecting each of the carriers with one of the magazines, chutes, chucks, and drivers, whereby said parts are compelled to partake of the movement of the carrier, While the cross-head and drivers are permitted to move independently of the other parts during the driving operation, substantially as set forth.

14. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a frame which remains at rest during the driving operation, a plurality of carriers supported thereby so as to be laterally ad j ustable thereon, independently of each other, a plurality of screws,e'ach having threaded engagement with one of the carriers, means for separately rotating said screws whereby the carriers are adjusted upon the frame and fixedly held in place during the driving operation, a plurality of magazines, nail-chucks, and chutes for conducting the nails from the magazines to the chucks, all of said parts being supported by the frame and adjustable laterally thereon, a reciprocable cross-head, a plurality of drivers slidably mounted upon the cross-head so as to partake of the movement thereof and at the same time be adjustable thereon, and means for connecting each of the carriers with one of the magazines, chutes, chucks and drivers whereby said parts are compelled to partake of the movement of the carrier, while the cross-head and drivers are permitted to move independently of the other parts, during the driving operation, substantially as set forth.

15. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a driver, a nail-chuck, a chute for conducting nails to the chuck, a magazine for containing a number of nails, and a feeder for taking the nails from the magazine and delivering them to the chute, all of said parts being adjustable, of means for imparting the necessary reciprocating movement to the feeder, a carrier, means for connecting the carrier with the magazine, and means under the control of the operator for connecting the feeder with the carrier, substantially as set forth.

16. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a number of drivers, chucks,

.chutes, magazines and feeders, arranged in groups which are adjustable relatively to each other, of a number of carriers, means connecting the driver, chuck, chute and magazine of each group with one of said carriers whereby said parts are compelled to move together, a rock shaft common to all of said groups, clampinglevers mounted upon said rockshaft so as to be capable of sliding but incapable of rotating thereon, and means connecting each of said levers with one of the carriers, substantially as set forth.

17. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plurality of magazines, a plurality of feeders, and means common to all of said feeders for simultaneously imparting to them to-and-fro reciprocating movement, each of the feeders having a pointing-off picker disposed in the general direction of the movement aforesaid, a socket in which said picker fits so as to be capable of endwise movement therein, and a spring for holding the picker in normal position so that the movement of the picker may be arrested without arresting the entire feeding mechanism, substantially as set forth.

18. In a machine for driving nails, the com bination of a plurality of magazines, a plurality of feeders, an endwise-movable rod by which all of said feeders are carried, means for reciprocating the rod endwise, thereby imparting to all of the feeders to-and-fro reciprocating movement, each of the feeders having a pointing-off picker disposed in the general direction of the movement aforesaid, a socket in which said picker fits so as to be capable of endwise movement therein, and a spring for holding the picker in normal position so that the movement of the picker may be arrested without arresting the entire feeding mechanism, substantially as set forth.

19. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plurality of magazines, a plurality of feeders, and means common to all of said feeders for simultaneously imparting to them to-and-fro reciprocating movement, each of the feeders havinga pointing-off picker disposed in the general direction of the movement aforesaid, a socket in which said picker fits so as to be capable of endwise movement therein, a spring for holding the picker in normal position so that the movement of the picker may be arrested without arresting the entire feeding mechanism, and a stem proceeding laterally from the socket, said stem being capable of both endwise and vertical adjustment, substantially as set forth.

20. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plurality of magazines, a'plurality of feeders, a rod capable of endwise movement to which all of said feeders are connected, and means for reciprocating said rod whereby reciprocating movement is simultaneously imparted to all of the feeders, each of the pickers being provided with a stem disposed transversely to said rod, a block adjustably mount-ed upon the rod and having sockets in which the stems of the pickers fit so as to be capable of both rotary and endwise adjustment, and means for securing the stems of the pickers in said sockets, substantially as set forth.

21. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plurality of magazines, a plurality of feeders,an endwise-movable rod upon which all of said feeders are mounted so as to be capable of adjustment thereon, means under the control of the operator for securing the feeders to said rod whereby they are compelled to partake of itsmovement or disconnecting them therefrom whereby they may be adjusted thereon, and means for reciprocating the rod, substantially as set forth.

22. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plurality of magazines, an endwise-movable rod disposed opposite the delivery ends of said magazines, means for reciprocating the rod, a plurality of blocks slidably mounted upon said rod, means under the control of the operator for connecting said blocks to the rod or disconnecting them therefrom, and a pair of pickers carried by each of the blocks, each of said pickers having a stem, each of the blocks having sockets in which said stems fit so as to be capable of both rotary and endwise adjustment, and means for securing the stems of the pickers in the sockets of the blocks, substantially as set forth.

23. In a machine for driving nails, the combination of a plurality of magazines, means for adjusting them relatively to each other, a plurality of feeders, a reciprocating rod on which said feeders are mounted, means under the control of the operator for connecting said feeders to said rod or disconnecting them therefrom so as to permit them to slide thereon, and means under the control of the operator for connecting the feeders to the magazines, substantially as set forth.

24. In a machine for driving nails, the combination with a number of drivers, a reciprocable cross-head by which they are operated, and a number of feeders, of a movable rod by which all of said feeders are operated, a shaft, means connecting it with the rod, an arm carried by the shaft, a pivoted latch carried by the arm and adapted to fall into the path of the cross-head whereby the rod is moved in one direction, means for tripping the latch and disengaging it from the cross-head, and a spring for moving the rod in the other direction, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES M. GREEN.

W'itnesses:

L. M. HOPKINS, I. CRoss. 

